Wales beckons camping enthusiasts with its awe-inspiring coastline and sandy shores. Whilst camping on the beaches is typically not allowed, there are a range of campsites across the country that are a stone’s throw away and have all the facilities you need for an enjoyable stay.
In this guide, I’ll share the best campsites in Wales near the beach. Every campsite on this list is among the top-rated in Wales, and all are within 10 minutes of some of Wales’ most beautiful beaches.
1. White Sands Camping, Pembrokeshire
When it comes to campsites near beaches, it doesn’t get much better than Whitesands Camping which is literally a 2-minute walk to the beach.
This isn’t any old beach, it’s Whitesands Bay, a blue flag beach which has a blue-flag award, recognizing its quality, cleanliness, and sustainability. I even featured it as one of my favourite beaches in West Wales. From the campsite, you can arrange surf lessons and equipment rentals, beachside windbreaks and recliners for the best beach trip.
Whitesands Camping offers a laid-back coastal camping experience with no need for advance bookings. Simply arrive, choose your pitch, and check in – I love it.
The campsite has 30 pitches for tents, trailer tents, campervans, and smaller motorhomes, catering to a family-friendly atmosphere. They have all the typical amenities such as washing-up sinks and a newly built Shower and Toilet Block.
From the campsite, it’s only a 30-minute walk into the historic city (more like a town) of St David’s where there are historical attractions such as St David’s Cathedral as well as plenty of restaurants.
2. Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park, The Gower
Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park is a luxurious glamping, camping, and touring caravan site. Located on the Gower Peninsular, the park is just a 10-minute walk from Three Cliffs Bay Beach which is an outstanding beach that has been voted among the top 10 most beautiful places in the UK
The dog-friendly park is a haven for beach lovers and avid hikers exploring the Wales Coastal Path. The park boasts fully refurbished, modern amenities with power showers, underfloor heating, and spacious dishwashing facilities.
With a variety of pitch options, including sea views and electric hookups, you can choose to have a pitch closer to the beach if it suits you. Optional extras like fire pits, picnic tables, and indulgent hampers further enhance the stay, ensuring a truly exceptional beachside retreat.
As well as this beach right on your doorstep, you also have easy access to the beaches across the rest of the Gower peninsular including Rhossili Bay, where you’ll find the famous worms head tidal island, and Oxwich Bay. If you’re into surfing, Llangennith is a renowned surfing beach just 15 minutes drive from the campsite, although the next recommendation, Hillend, might be better suited.
3. Hillend Caravan & Camping Park, The Gower
Hillend Caravan & Camping Park Gower is a true coastal gem. Nestled at the western edge of the captivating Gower Peninsula, the campsite is surrounded by farm and moorland, embraced by extensive sand dunes.
The campsite features 250 pitches spread over 14 acres of gently sloping meadows, all within a short 7-minute walk to the nearby beach, Llangennith Beach. This beach is popular with surfers due to great waves and views of Rhossili and Worm’s Head.
Surfing isn’t the only thing to do here. It’s also a great spot to base yourself if you enjoy swimming, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, and fishing.
4. Shell Island, North Wales
Not only is the campsite at Shell Island near to the beach, its surrounded by beaches.
Let’s get the record straight, Shell Island isn’t actually an island, however, when the tide comes in, vehicle access to the small peninsular is cut off giving the feel of an island (although you can still reach the mainland by foot at all times).
Its real name is Mochras but it’s called Shell Island due to the vast number of sea shells that wash up on the beach.
The campsite at Shell Island is huge, and that’s not an understatement. It’s 300 acres which isn’t just the biggest campsite in Wales, but the biggest in the UK. This means you can pitch up wherever suits you best, so if you’d rather be close to the beach, that’s absolutely fine. They have a rule that you cannot camp within 15m of another tent, which means you’ll always have a generous amount of space.
But what makes Shell Island a great place to camp isn’t just its location, but the range of activities you can take part in including fishing and boating. Many families take their own field games to make use of the extra space.
5. Black Rock Sands Camping Park, North Wales
Black Rock Sands Touring and Camping Park is located immediately behind Black Rock Sands Beach in the picturesque surroundings of North Wales. To reach the beach, you just need to make your way across the dunes.
Don’t underestimate its size. Black Rock Sands Camping is a twelve-acre, all-grass park which is a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike
The campground boasts a range of excellent amenities, including unmetered hot showers, a well-maintained toilet block, a disabled wet room, a convenient dishwashing area, and even a freezer for ice blocks.
6. Hendre Mynach Touring & Camping, North Wales
Hendre Mynach Touring and Camping is one of several campsites owned by the same family. The biggest draw is that it’s only 100m from Barmouth Beach via a dedicated footpath or a 20-minute walk into Barmouth town.
Barmouth is one of my favourite beaches in North Wales with a long stretch of golden sand and all of your typical beach amenities.
The campsite is suitable for tents and touring caravans, they also have some pods and shepherd huts if you’d rather try glamping.
They have all of the necessary campsite facilities including several toilet and shower blocks, a washing up area, and a laundrette. They also have a book exchange in an old telephone box which is a nice extra touch.
7. Beach View Abersoch, Llyn Peninsular
Beach View Abersoch is a 4-star rated campsite on a cliff overlooking the coast along the Llyn Peninsular.
It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the closest beach, Machroes, which is a beautiful sandy beach. However, the walk back is quite steep. Alternatively, Abersoch is only a 30-minute walk away which has another stunning beach as well as independent shops, cafes, and pubs selling food.
The campsite itself has pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes & tents, although there are a limited number of tent pitches so be sure to book. There are some seasonal pitches for static caravans.
8. Meadow Farm Tenby, Pembrokeshire
Meadow Farm is a beloved, family-run campsite in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. The campsite is perched on a hill overlooking Tenby North Beach, offering panoramic views of Tenby, its Blue Flag Beaches and its charming harbour with the serene Caldey Island in the background.
From the campsite, it’s only a 10-minute walk down to North Beach and the town of Tenby which is full of lively bars, cafes, restaurants, and unique shops. However, many people staying here still choose to drive down to avoid the uphill walk back.
The hardworking and friendly staff ensure that facilities, including showers and toilets, are kept impeccably clean and the showers are particularly powerful and warm.
9. Trevayne, Pembrokeshire
Trevayne Campsite sits on the cliff above Monkstone Beach, a real gem which is accessible via a short, but steep walk down 100 steps. Trust me, it’s worth it, Monkstone Beach is inaccessible by road, so it’s never busy and you’ll usually have the beach to yourself.
Alternatively, the campsite sits halfway between Tenby and Saundersfoot, so you’ll have plenty of beaches to choose from. It’s less than 10 minutes to drive to either, or you can walk to them in under an hour. Saundersfoot can be reached along the coast at low tide.
The site itself is small compared to the others I’ve reviewed here, so it’s only suitable for tents and campervans that don’t require an electric hookup. But don’t worry, they still have all the facilities you’ll need including blocks with toilets and hot showers.
One of the most unique things about Trevayne is the small farm shop onsite selling fresh produce from the farm and other local suppliers.
10. Tŷ Gwyn Caravan and Camping Park, West Wales
Tŷ Gwyn Caravan and Camping Park is a charming, family-run retreat nestled on a working farm overlooking the captivating Cardigan Bay which offers a front-row seat to the mesmerizing sight of dolphins and seals that are resident in the area.
Those looking to camp near the beach will be pleased to know that Mwnt Beach is just a 10-minute walk away. This is a secluded sandy beach that’s not too popular so it’s never overcrowded like other nearby beaches.
Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the direct access from the campsite to the Wales coastal path, perfect for scenic walks.
The park accommodates tents, caravans, motorhomes, and campervans on both grass and hard-standing pitches, with optional electric hook-ups available. Impeccable shower and toilet facilities, including a family room, are provided at no additional cost.
11. Treheli Farm, Llyn Peninsular
Treheli Farm is a campsite sat on the cliff overlooking the long sand and stone beach at Porth Neigwl, more famously known as Hell’s Mouth. I’m not a big surfer, however, I know that this is a renowned spot for surfers due to the exposed nature of the beach which receives the full force of the Atlantic.
Whilst the views overlooking Cardigan Bay from this beach are incredible, be warned that actually getting down to the beach isn’t straightforward. You will basically need to climb down through bushes, using a rope. It’s not impossible for someone fit, but keep this in mind if your mobility isn’t great.
The campsite is suitable for tents or campervans of any size, although with a maximum of 6 people per pitch. As well as bringing your own tent, you can rent a bell tent which can sleep up to 6 and comes with a fire pit and logs. For a truly romantic experience, they also have dedicated star-gazing tents which are more secluded from the rest of the site.
12. Berts Kitchen, South Wales
Bert’s Kitchen Garden is an old farm that has been converted into a kitchen with eco camping and cottage rental. If you enjoy camping but want good food on hand, this is perfect for you. The restaurant serves up pizzas, burgers, and steak.
The campsite is set among wild meadows, with the pitches mowed out and an area for 4 campervans tucked into the woodland. The site has hot showers and eco-friendly toilets. There is no electrical hookup, but there is charging for mobile phones.
Although you can’t see the coast from the campsite, a brisk 10-minute walk will take you to (Traeth Trefor) Trefor Beach which is a small, sheltered beach made up of pebbles and sand. If you don’t want to walk, there’s also a free car park next to the beach.
Related Questions
Can You Camp On a Beach in Wales?
No, you cannot camp on public beaches in Wales. Even if there are no signs telling you not to camp on the beach, you should generally assume it's not allowed unless the landowner has given you explicit permission that it's permitted.
Are You Allowed To Camp Anywhere in Wales?
No, wild camping is banned in Wales. Legally, you cannot camp anywhere without the explicit permission of the landowner.
Published: 4 August 2023